Platen-shifting mechanism for type-writing machines.



No. 774,639. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

P. H. ARMSTRONG. PLATEN SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY13, 1904.

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artozwzw No. 774,639. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

P. H ARMSTRONG.

PLATEN SHIPTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY-13, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Svwenfcn PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

F. H. ARMSTRONG.

PLATEN SHIPTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1904.

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FM Efimfrang? No. 774,639. PATENTED Nov. 8. 1904. F. H. ARMSTRONG. PLATE}? SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1904.

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snvewfoz FM d rmz'rorg? Q'Vi buzoauo F d2 16 M 35% w: A (QLW UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

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FRANK H. ARMSTRONG, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.774=,639, dated. November 8, 1904. Appliqption filed May 13, 1904. Serial No. 207,797. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, FRANK H. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, Cayuga county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Platen-Shifting Mechanism for Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates particularly to mechanism for raising and lowering the platen to shift from lower case to capital or characters.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and eflicient mechanism of the character referred to. This object I accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whicl1- Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved platen-shifting mechanism. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the platen-shifting keys from a point opposite that in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a portion thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the vertically-movable rod or bar and the end of the shifting-lever by which the platen is raised and lowered. Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the spring-controlled supporting means-to hold the platen in its middle position. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are perspectives of the upper and lower rock-shaft and their arms which carry the platen. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the axis of the shiftlevers. Fig. 10 is a detail of one end of the platen-carrier. Fig. 11 is a section through the platen-carrying bar, its supporting-roller, and the rail on which the roller travels. Fig. 12 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a modified form of shifting mechanism. Fig. 13 is a section on line 13 18, Fig. 12. Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are detail views.

A designates the frame of a type-writing machine-such, for instance, as that shown in my Patent No. 717,794, dated January 6, 1903, and provided with the fulcrum-bar A as shown therein.

B designates a carriage mounted in suitable ways or guides on the frame.

0 designates the platen, with its shaft ends a c journaled in the upper ends of posts 0 0 of the platen-carrier C. These posts 0' 0 are adjustable toward and from each other by means of the slots 0 0 and screws 0 0 (See Fig. 10.)

The platen-carrier C is provided at the middle of its under side with a depending project up through slots 0 in carrier C and are provided at their upper ends with nuts 0 The lower ends of the arms 0 are curved inwardly (see Fig. 11) to lie close to the rail or bar D and prevent disengagement. The connection between arms (Z (Z and the rail or bar D is a loose one and is effected by means of screws cl (Z, extending up through slightlyflaring openings (Z in the arms (Z, as shown in Fig. 11. g

The vertically-rocking platen-shi fti ng frame formed by the shaft D, rod or rail D, and arms cl (Z is raised and lowered from a normal middle position by means of a verticallymovable rod or link D connected at its upper end'to the forked end of the left arm (Z, as shown in Fig. 1. The platen-supporting frame is supported in its middle position, which is that for the small-case letters, by means of a lever E, pivoted to the frame at its front end and extending rearwardly and beneath a lateral lug 6Z3 on the rod or link D (See Figs. 1, 4:, and 5.) This lever E is supported by a spring E, connected at its lower end to said lever, and at its upper end connected to an adjusting-screw E extending down through a part of the frame. The lower end of this screw is provided with a swiveled collar (2, having a slot or groove 0" in one side, and the upper end of the spring has a shank portion 0 extending through the slot or groove, and an eye 0 encircling the screw above the collar, all as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus the turning of the screw E will not torsionally twist the spring, but will merely increase or lessen its tension. The

angles from one arm (l, and the other end of this spring engages a collar e on the screw D mounted in a bracket (5 on the frame.

those in Figs. 5 and 6.

The platen, as before stated, is journaled in the posts 0 c, and this is effected by providing the upper ends of said posts with angular slots 0, which are open at the front sides of the posts for the insertion of and removal of the platen, the platen-shaft being held from accidental displacement by means of the vertical screws 0". In order that the platen may be guided truly in the vertical movements, 1 provide an upper rock-shaft F, which is journaled in the ends of the carriage, as shown in Fig. .1, and from this shaft project the forwardly-extending arms F F, having hook-like slots f in their forward ends which engage the platen-shaft c. This platen-shaft is held adjustably in these slots f by means of the sliding plates f, forked at their forward ends f to straddle the shaft 0 and provided with set-screws f which eX tend through slots f in the arms F. In order that the platen may be adjusted properly in the direction of its length, I provide the slotted angle-slides F (see Figs. 15, 16,) se cured to the outer ends of arms F by screws f, the inwardly-projecting members of the said slides engaging the ends of the platen. It will be seen that as the carriage travels back and forth the platen will travel with it and be supported'in such traveling by means of the roller 0 which rolls along the rail or track D.

The shift mechanism for raising and lowering the platen by actuating the rod or link D is as follows: G is the shift-lever for raising the platen when capitals are to be printed, it being understood that every type bar has three type, the middle being the small case, the bottom the capitals, and the top a sign or character. This lever G is pivoted at its rear end to the rear of the frame by means of a slotted bracket ..r and a pivot bolt or pin y. (See Figs. 1 and 10.) The lever G is pro vided on its under side between its ends with a rearwardly-eXtending open slot which ongages a pin on the front end of a slot-lever G",

, fulcrumed at about its middle on the fulcrumbar A and at its rear forwardly-bent end 5 pivoted to the lower end of rod or link I). It follows, then, when the lever G is pressed down it will bear down on the pin 9 of lever G and so raise the rear end of said lever, and with it the rod D and the platen. The other shifting-lever, H, is also pivoted at its rear end on the bolt or pin g and is provided on its lower side with a forwardly-extending open slot h, which engages a pin (Z projecting from the rod (Z just above its connection with lever G so that by pressing shift-lever H downward it will bear down on pin (i and so de-' press rod D and with it the arms (Z (Z, rod D, and the platen. The upward movement of spring-supported lever Eis limited by a stop 1 formed of a bolt or in (2 adjustable in a slot r a I 1 a This spring-collar and screw are ust like a in the side of the frame. The upward and downward movements of the rod D are limited by similar stops (Z 03, mounted adjustably in a slot (i by means of threaded portions having nuts and these three stops may all have rubber or other cushioning means, such as a piece of rubber tubing (6 By means of these three stops a nice adjustment of the platen with relation to the typesurfaces may be had.

In order to lock the platen in its raised and lowered positions for continuous printing on the lower or upper type, I provide latches K K, pivoted to the frame and having springs K: engaging their toes 7: in front of the pivots and normally holding the latches away from the catches or shoulders 713 on the levers. (See Fig. 1.) The hooked ends 7 3 of the latches are provided with set-screws 71 the points of which engage the catches g 72. and by adjusting these screws the platen may be held at the correct point for the type. The latches are connected for simultaneous movement by a link if, and outward movement of the latches is limited by a stop Z? on the frame.

Briefly stated, the operation is as follows: The lever E supports'the platen at the middle point for use with the lower-case type; but the platenmay be raised when capitals are used by simply depressing lever G, which in turn will raise the rear end of lever G and so raise the platen. On release of pressure on lever G the platen will return by gravity to the normal position. When the other set of type are to be used, the key H will be depressed against the action of the spring E, and on release of the key the springs E D will restore the platen to its normal position.

In Fig. 12 only one shifting-lever and short lever G are shown, the lever H being omitted. The lower end of the rod or link I) is provided with a guide-slot and a guide-pin (Z This construction may be em ployed where the platen is to be shifted in one direction only, which will be the case where the type-bars have only two type each. In this event the stops d and (71 will be adjusted accordingly.

I do not restrict myself to the details herein shown and described, as the same may be considerably varied within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a vertically-movable platen-carrier, a vertically-movable horizontal rod or rail on which the platen-carrier rests and travels, and a vertically-movable bar or link to actuate said rod or rail, of a short lever fulcrumed between its ends on the frame and pivoted at its rear end to said operating bar or link, a key-lex er pivoted at its rear end to the frame and pivotally connected between its ends to the front end of said short lever, a second key-lever alongside the first key-lever, pivoted at its rear end to the frame and pivotally connected between its ends to the lower end of said rod or link, catches on the front ends of said key-levers and latches pivoted to the frame and having hooked upper ends engaging said catches.

2. In a platen-shifting mechanism, the combination with two shift key-levers mounted side by side at one side of the frame and provided on their front ends with catches or shoulders, of two spring-pressed latches pivoted to the frame one in advance of the other and having forwardly-projecting upper ends, vertical screws extending down through said projecting ends to engage the said catches or shoulders, and a link connecting said latches.

3. The combination with a vertically-movable platen-carrier, a vertically-movable hori- Zontal rod or rail on which the platen-carrier rests and travels, and a vertically-movable bar or link to actuate said rod or rail, of a short lever fulcru med between its ends on the frame and pivoted at its rear end to said operating bar or link and a key-lever pivoted at its rear end to the frame and pivotally connected between its ends to the front end of said short lever.

4:. In a platen-shifting mechanism, the combination with a vertically-movable platen-carrier, a vertically-movable horizontal bar or rail on which the platen-carrier rests and travels and a vertically-movable rod or link to actuate said bar or rail, a key-lever pivoted at its rear end to the frame and pivot-ally connected between its ends to the lower end of said rod or link, a short lever fulcrumed between its ends on the frame and pivoted at its rear end to said operating bar or link, and a key-lever pivoted at its rear end to the frame and pivotally connected between its ends to the front end of the said short lever.

5. In a platen-shifting mechanism, the combination with avertically-movable platen-carrier, a vertically-movable rod or link operatively connected therewith at its upper end, adjustable stops to limit the movement of said rod or link in both directions and a yielding means to suspend said rod orlink in a middle, normal position, of a short lever fulcrumed between its ends on the frame and pivotally connected at its rear end to the lower end of said rod or link, a key-lever pivoted at its rear end to the frame and pivotally connected between its ends to the front end of said short lever, and a second key-lever pivoted at its rear end to the frame and pivotally connected between its ends to the said rod or link.

6. The combination with a vertically-movable platen-carrier, and the platen journaled in bearings thereon, of a vertically-rocking frame including a bar or rail on which the carrier rests and travels, a key-lever mechanism to actuate said frame, an upper rock-shaft having forwardly-projecting arms provided with open slots receiving the ends of theplaten shaft and adjustable forked plates mounted on said arms with their forked ends embracing the ends of the platen-shaft. I

7 The combination with the verticallymovable platen-carrier, of a rock-shaft provided with forwardly-projecting arms having end apertures, a bar or rail at the forward ends of said arms, screws extending freely up through said apertures into the bar or rail, a roller on the platen-carrier traveling on said bar or rail, a-spring controlling said rockshaft,an ad justing-screw mounted in the frame to adjust the tension of said spring, and keylever mechanism operatively connected with said rock-shaft to actuate it and raise and lower the platen-carrier.

8. The combination with the verticallymovable platen-carrier, and its vertically-movable supporting bar or rail, of a verticallymovable operating-rod having a lateral lug or projection, a supporting-lever engaging the under side of said lug or projection, an adjusting-screw above the lever and provided with a swiveled collar having a groove in one side, a spring connected at its lower end to said lever and at its upper end extending through said collargroove and around the screw, and a key-lever mechanism for operating said rod or link.

9. The combination with the pivoted platensupportinglever or arm, of an adjusting-screw provided with a swiveled collar having a groove and a spring connected at its lower end to the lever and at its upper end having a shank extending through the said groove and an eye encircling the screw above the collar.

10. The combination with a carriage, a vertically-movable platen-carrier thereon having posts provided with open bearing-slots and screws, a platen having its shaft mountedin said slots behind the screws, a rock shaft mounted on the carriage in rear of the platen and provided with forwardly-projecting arms having open slots at their front ends receiving the ends of the platen-shaft, forked slides on said arms embracing the platen-shaft adjacent to the posts, a lower rock-shaft on the frame provided with forwardly projecting arms, a bar or rail mounted on said arms, a roller on the platen-carrier traveling on said bar or rail, and a key mechanism moving said bar or rail vertically.

11. lnaplaten-shifting mechanismthe combination with the platen-shift key-levers side by side having catches or shoulders at their forward ends, of pivoted spring-pressed latches mounted one in advance of the other and having hook-like ends to engage said catches or shoulders to hold said levers depressed; and a horizontal link connecting said latches to cause them to move together.

12. In a platenshifting mechanism, the combination with the platen-shift key-levers mounted side by side and having catches or shoulders at their front ends,of pivoted springpressed latches mounted one in advance of the other and having hook-like ends to engage said catches or shoulders and hold said levers depressed, a horizontal link connecting said latches and a stop on the frame limiting the outward movement of the latches.

13. In a platen-shifting mechanism the combination with a platemcarrier having transverse slots in its end portions, brackets formed of pairs of depending arms provided at their upper ends with threaded stems extending up through said slots and provided with nuts, and a roller journalcd between each pair of arms; the lower ends of the arms being curved inwardly below the rollers, of a verticallymovable rail or bar extending between said lower curved ends and forming a track for the rollers, and means for operating said bar or rail.

erases 14. In a platenshifting mechanism, the combination with a carriage, a vertically-movable platen-carrier having longitudinal slots in its ends, end posts having slotted upper ends, screws extending up through the platencarrier slots into the posts to secure them adjustably, and a platen mounted in the slotted end posts, of a rock-shaft on the carriage having slotted forward ends receiving the platenshaft, forked slides on said arms and also embracing the platen-shaft and means for shifting the platen vertically.

15. In a platen-shifting mechanism, the combination with the carriage, the platencarrier and the platen mounted thereon, of a rock-shaft on the carriage having arms engaging the ends of the platen-shaft, angle slides adjustable on the outer ends of said arms with their free ends extending inwardly to the ends of the platen and means for shifting the platen-carrier.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK H. ARMSTRONG. Witnesses:

N. H. HARRIS, H. E. GALLINGER. 

